Whitworth Cup: Ripon Red Arrows look to soar past City rivals

Ed White

A heated battle is anticipated when Ripon City and Ripon Red Arrows come to blows for a Whitworth Cup derby.

The city rivals have been paired together in the district competition in the first round and are due to meet at Mallorie Park on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm).

The Red Arrows will bid to put on a show to shock the home West Yorkshire outfit, who have struggled for form early on under new boss Micky Baldwin. And the gaffer gave a stark warning to his squad to make sure they were on their mettle against a side currently eighth in Harrogate and District Division One.

Baldwin said: “We have to match them for commitment. If we don’t, we will get beat, it’s as simple as that.

“They will be well up for it and raring to go from the start.

“I’ve already watched them this season and I know they have some good footballers so we have to be at our best.

“Red Arrows have nothing to lose, and we have everything to lose. So if we can’t rise to the occasion, we’ll be going out.”

City are bottom of West Yorkshire Division One, but reversed a run of two straight defeats with a 2-2 draw at home to Ilkley Town last Saturday.

Luca Crompton scored City’s opener before Ilkley roared back to go in front at the break.

But Mike Cooper earned a share of the spoils with a second-half equaliser, and the same player almost stole the points at the death but fired his shot wide.

“They were well up in the league and we played really well and could have sneaked it at the death,” added Baldwin.

“It’s good to get a result, and after the game, the lads were well happy. They had played well and stuck at the task in hand.”

Baldwin is missing four players for Red Arrows’ visit but Adam Haswell should return from injury while Andrew Hodgson is also nearing fitness.

The Red Arrows, who were promoted last season, approach the game also on the back of a draw after being held 2-2 by Harlow Hill Reserves.

The Ripon side have only won once in five matches in Division One, with the three points arriving in a 7-2 thrashing of winless Hampsthwaite HC.

Meanwhile, Boroughbridge collected one point from their West Yorkshire Division One fixture at Baildon Trinity Athletic after hitting back from 2-0 down at half time.

Goals from Ross Mardon and Ben Jones inside brought the game level inside 10 minutes of the second period.

‘Bridge face a trip to Beckwithshaw Saints in the Whitworth Cup first round this Saturday.